Israeli airstrikes kill at least 34 Palestinians in Gaza

At least 34 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and attacks across Gaza since dawn on Tuesday, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) reported an incident involving Chris Smalls, a US labour activist, who was intercepted by Israeli forces while aboard a ship attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Smalls was assaulted by seven uniformed Israeli personnel, leaving visible injuries on his neck and back. The group condemned the assault as discriminatory.

Israeli forces carried out overnight bombings in the central Nuseirat region, killing at least 30 people. Hospitals are struggling to manage the influx of patients, many of whom are civilians trapped in collapsed buildings.

In the West Bank, Palestinian activist Odeh Muhammad Hadalin was shot dead by an Israeli settler in the village of Umm al-Khair. Hadalin, known for documenting settler violence, was mourned by fellow activists as a committed advocate for Palestinian rights.

The Israeli army has been conducting a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of nearly 60,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The bombardment has led to food shortages and destruction in the enclave.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

According to the source: The Express Tribune.